Iconic McLaren Vale craft brewing company, Vale Brewing, has celebrated its significant new ownership chapter by unveiling a premium Kolsch beer – considered the champagne of beers – now available on tap at selected pubs and venues across South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.

The company’s Brothers’ Brew Kolsch is the first product introduced since majority shareholders and brothers Tim, Pete and Michael Collin acquired 100 per cent ownership by buying out fellow shareholders Greg Mackay and Mark Rodgers and rebranding what was previously McLaren Vale Beer Company as Vale Brewing.

At the time, the Collin brothers promised to entrench the brewery’s standing as a premium brewer of well-crafted beers and ciders while adding innovative new lines to the range.

“While Brothers’ Brew Kolsch is a bit of a light-hearted play on the three Collin brothers taking over the company, what’s inside the kegs is serious stuff indeed,” spokesperson Tim Collin said.

“We’re thrilled that the company is now 100% family owned and we’re sending out a strong message that we’re committed to craft brewing excellence and innovation…today, tomorrow and into the future.”

Longstanding head brewer Jeff Wright added that Brothers’ Brew Kolsch has been well-received by local beer aficionados who enjoy a clean, crisp and easy-drinking beer.

“An ale with its roots in the German city of Cologne – or Köln to the locals – Kolsch is Germany’s answer to the British pale ale and gets its characteristic, slightly fruity flavour from its own special ale yeast, with which the brew is cool-fermented and then aged and mellowed near the freezing point,” Jeff explained.

“We’ve remained true to the tradition by creating a beer with clean malt characters and a residual spicy citrus bitterness to produce a fantastic beer that’s the perfect accompaniment for just about any special meal.”

Brothers’ Brew Kolsch is currently available on tap across Adelaide – at the Wellington, Warradale, Franklin and Royal Oak Hotels, the Published Arthouse and the Rocket and the PA Hotel in nearby Gawler – at Melbourne’s Local Taphouse, at Jack Greene in Hobart and St John Craft Beer Bar in Launceston and at the American Hotel in the country Victorian town of Echuca.

Plans are well advanced to add a number of additional Melbourne venues to the list.